UF vs. Vandy will be a hard-hitting affair

JACKSONVILLE -- Sitting in the wonderful Jacksonville Airport about to board a flight to Nashville. A few thoughts before I head west:

--No.4 Florida (7-1, 5-1 in SEC) hasn't lost to Vanderbilt (5-3, 3-2) since 1988.

--Florida is a 24-point favorite, according to one offshore sports book. Take my advice and pass on this bet. Florida's margin of victory over the last four games (39.5 points) has skewed this line. Vanderbilt features a strong defense, which ranks second in the league behind Florida in red-zone efficiency. The Commodores have held opponents scoreless in the red zone on 15 of 20 possessions this season. Furthermore, Vandy's opponents have scored TDs on just 10 of 25 red-zone possessions (four rushing/six passing). The 40 percent TD rate by opponents ranks second nationally behind Florida State.

--In addition to those stats, Vanderbilt is playing at home and at night in front of a sold out stadium and can tie Florida and Georgia for first place in the SEC with a win. You read that correctly. It's November and Vanderbilt is still in the race for the SEC East. Expect a nasty and physical SEC football game. Not saying Vandy has much of a chance to beat Florida, but I do think the Commodores will keep it close. This is the biggest game of their season.

--Would anyone be surprised if UF quarterback Tim Tebow accounts for all of Florida's touchdowns on Saturday night? If the Gators are inside the VU 10, expect Tebow to get the call. He's back in the Heisman race and UF wants him to win it and if not win it, then land another trip to New York.

--In his last four games, Tebow has completed 70 percent of his passes.

-jo-

Comments

[TXCane]

Vandy will be a hard-hitting affair???

Goody, they just lost to DUKE and according to the Gator fans the ACC sux's?

Should be a blow-out!

24 Point Favorite? Should at least be 38, Florida is way to good for Vandy.

Gators 53 Vandy 10

[Freetruth]

Vandy always plays Florida tough, especially at home. Hard to believe that Vandy would overlook anybody, but you can bet they took Duke lightly looking ahead to their biggest game of the year. That loss actually made them more dangerous this week. Florida by 5 points won't look impressive to many, but I'll take it.

[Jay]

Timmy gets a trip to NY regardless since he's a previous winner.

[Adam S.]

Jay is right, but I'm not sure if he'd go (if not in the top 5) depending on the bowl game we'd be involved in.

**Florida is a 24-point favorite, according to one offshore sports book. Take my advice and pass on this bet.**

--100% correct, jo.

**The Commodores have held opponents scoreless in the red zone on 15 of 20 possessions this season. Furthermore, Vandy's opponents have scored TDs on just 10 of 25 red-zone possessions (four rushing/six passing).**

-- The Gators are 33/34 in the red zone this year. With the 1 exception a purposeful kneel down by Tebow against Tennessee to end the game. For all intents and purposes, they're 33 for 33 in the RZ.

[14-0-ToPasadenaWeGo]

Vandy is averaging 21 points scored per game as compared to Florida's 42.9. A glaring number in my opinion.

Vandy is respectable in only surrendering 16.5 points per game while florida relinquishes a stingy 11.6

VU is tied with UF for a league best 13 interceptions.

The commodores are second in the league on both sides of the ball in the red zone. That's impressive until you consider that the Gators are #1 on both sides of the ball while inside the RZ.

I'd like to give Vanderbilt some cred here but they are dreadful on 3rd down and have the worst passing game in the SEC. Not the national audience nor the night game nor the mid-40's air temp will be enough to overcome the beatdown that awaits. Given the present BCS scenario, I don't see Meyer taking his foot off of their throat in this one. Yet another blowout.

UF 48 VU 13

[Goody]

Mid 40s, dang! Glad I brought my coat.

UF 28 VU 10

-jo-

[Adam S.]

If they have that good of RZ defense, that should result in at least one FG.

31 - 12

[Goody]

Hopefully for your sake, Adam S., the Gators aren't as cocky as you.

-jo-

[Adam S.]

How is that prediction cocky? I gave Vandy more points than you did. Cocky would be 56 - 0.

[Goody]

The comment about the field goal...

-jo-